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The Kappa In Japanese Folklore

Kappas are legendary creatures that inhabit the rivers and waterways of Japan. They have beaked noses, shells on their back and a depression on their heads that holds water. Kappa are mischievous troublemakers. Their pranks range from the relatively innocent, such as loudly passing gas or looking up women's kimonos, to the more troublesome such as drowning swimmers and eating children. They feed on their victims by sucking their liver though their anus. They love cucumbers and if you write your name on a cucumber and throw it in the river, the kappa may be appeased by your gift and allow you to swim in peace.

November 2008

November 26, 2008

These weren't intended to be Thanksgiving dresses, I just finally finished them today--it was probably almost three months ago that both girls described the sort of dress they wanted and picked out embroidery from one of my Japanese books ( ISBN 978483472417)

The embroidery is kind of random, but that's what they chose. Miranda's has two little dogs snuggling in a bed with a fox looking up at them. Ivy's has lions on the bodice, and cats on the skirt, the cats are supposed to be our own cats, Bella, Pip and Yoko.

The leg on the lioness turned out kind of strange, I don't think it's possible to actually sit like that. I do better with outline embroidery, this is rather wonky.

I can never figure out how to put a hem into something like an a-line dress with a curved hem. I know it has something to do with easing it, but mine come out bulky and don't hang right. So I always just edge them with bias tape, which works pretty well.

Ivy's ties in the back with a ribbon sash. This is one of my favorite styles of dresses because if I make a deep hem, she can wear them for several years.

November 21, 2008

I started a new doll for Ivy. I just wasn't happy with the way the other doll was turning out. It was a cute pattern, but it seemed more a sit-on-the-shelf doll than a cuddly play-with-me doll. I am using the Nekomimi pattern at Runo's Dollmaker site. It's a simple pattern, but I've had to adjust it--since I already made the dress for the other doll, I need to make this one a little smaller than the original pattern, which is somewhat tricky. But I know I'm be happier with this doll and that will make the extra work worth it.

Looking for Santa maybe? That was Miranda's theory. I was more concerned about a trapped bird, but there didn't appear to be anything in the flue so I have no idea what they were so interested in.

November 17, 2008

...around my sewing room, which is a mess. I'm still working on the doll for Ivy, and last night I ruined eight dollars worth of silk/wool yarn trying to make hair. It's the more gold-y one near the front, that's just a bit of it. The rest is in short pieces, hidden away in a drawer. I spent nearly three hours struggling with it last night, and in the end was ready to pitch the whole doll out the nearest window. It looks okay, but I've got an idea of how I want the hair to look and I'm having a problem rendering it in yarn.

The doll dress is coming along just fine, I just need to make a green petticoat

And then, well--this is where I get tripped up when I say I'm not going to go overboard making things this year. Because, see, in the book The Story of Holly and Ivy, the book that this doll I'm making is based on, Ivy has a green coat. So wouldn't it be great if I made her a green coat so she'd be like the Ivy in the book? And then Ivy gets a green dress and red petticoat so she can match the doll. And at one point, they get matching knitted hats. Wouldn't it be great to make all of that too?

November 11, 2008

This is a giant climbing structure at the zoo, that always seems as though it's something I should be warning my kids to stay off of, rather than encouraging them

Note: Ivy is wearing her pajamas--again, and a sweatshirt with Curious George that's probably a size 18 months. She insists it still fits. Neither girl is wearing shoes, to make climbing easier. Brian is not at the zoo with us. (I'll admit that we were rather underdressed for the chilly weather, and headed over to the heated vet building afterwards)

The lions were so active today. Usually they are sleeping on the rocks. It was later in the day and maybe close to feeding time

There is a pane of glass separating us, you can see a bit of the wooden frame and it's causing odd reflections in all the pictures. But it was amazing to see both of them so close. A few times they chased each other around the enclosure.

November 10, 2008

mrmonkeysuit has opened a shop on Etsy called Auburn Studios with a charming assortment of hair clips and pdf patterns. Stop in and check it out as well as heading over to her blog to enter the giveway for a traveling art show, just by leaving a link to her shop on your own blog.

November 07, 2008

If you are local to the Cleveland, Ohio area, check out eatingcleveland.com for reviews on where to find a good meal (often cheap), and good recipes. But you don't need to be local to take advantage of the great giveways such as this one to win a Penzys herb and spice gift box. All you need to do is write a post on your blog linking back his post, and then comment on the post to confirm your entry.

Sorry, I know I have a lot of international readers, but it's US only. My husband encouraged me to promote the blog because he likes the fact that it's written by another fat guy who knows where to find a good meal.

November 05, 2008

Miranda's started a countdown for Christmas which is emphasizing the sobering reality that if I'm going to give any handmade gifts, I need to get cracking. I'm working more this season--the holiday show added an extra day, so after Thanksgiving I'll be working Wednesday through Saturday evenings and Sunday during the day. I'll be able to some handwork during downtimes--I'm guessing bringing the sewing machine in would be a distraction. I've given myself permission to only give a few handmade gifts this year--which even gives me a twinge to type out, but I don't want to make myself crazy, I want to be sure with the free time I have I can do holiday activities with the girls, instead of crabbing at them to leave me alone because I'm trying to finish things up.

This is going to be a doll for Ivy, I've made some adaptations to the pattern in the Edith Flack Ackley book. I used a lightweight linen for the body--what Joann Fabric's calls "tissue linen" on their website. The book recommends cotton crepe, which was probably a lot easier to get back in the 40's-- Fabric Tales carries it, but I want to wait until I can put together a bigger order and there really isn't anything else I want on the website right now.

I'm not sure about the arms--do they seem too skinny in proportion to the legs?

The weather here has been gorgeous, in the 70's today but getting cool in the evening. I walked Miranda to her art class today and the trees in the neighborhood are glorious

November 02, 2008

There is a celebration of The Day of the Dead at the (no longer functioning as an actual church but still referred to as) Orthodox Church next door to where I work. I wanted to take the girls, but I had to work both days, and Brian was working the help desk, which means he needs to be able to quickly access his computer and was uneasy about leaving home for any length of time. I was able to duck over to the festivities during downtime at the theatre.
The procession

There are also messages of life and hope in the celebration, as death is just seen as part of a cycle. I'm guessing the hope part is where this giant Obama puppet comes in, as he seemed pretty happy to be attending.